NEW YORK — A physician in Mississippi is warning that one-third of the state’s population could have diabetes in less than two decades, according to published reports.

The Guardian interviewed Richard deShazo of the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, quoting him as saying that about a third of the population would have diabetes by 2030.

According to the 2013 edition of "F as in Fat," an annual report put out by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 12.5% of Mississippi adults have diabetes, the second-highest rate in the country after West Virginia. That report forecasts that the 284,269 cases of diabetes Mississippi had in 2010 could increase to 415,353 by 2030.

And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, all of the states with rates of diabetes of at least 10% as of 2010 were in the South: Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia, along with Puerto Rico. Overall, the south had a median age-adjusted diabetes prevalence of 9.8%, compared with 7.5% in the Midwest and 7.3% each in the Northeast and West.

Former Walmart CEO joins board of Victory Electronic Cigarettes

SPRING LAKE, Mich. — Victory Electronic Cigarettes on Monday announced that Bill Fields, former president and CEO of Walmart stores division, will join its board of directors.

"My decision to join Victory’s board was driven by a shared philosophy on how to win, Victory’s established and efficient infrastructure and the company’s experienced and proven management team," Fields said. "Ninety percent of the growth of e-cigarettes is in front of us as the segment continues to take share from the nearly $800 billion dollar tobacco category. I am confident our team will accelerate Victory’s efforts and that we will quickly become a leader within this industry."

Fields is currently chairman of Fields Texas, Four Courners Sourcing International, and a managing partner of Strategic Brands. During his extensive career with Walmart, he held many senior executive positions including assistant to Walmart’s founder, Sam Walton; SVP distribution and transportation; and EVP Walmart, which culminated in the role of president and CEO of the Walmart stores division. Fields retired from Walmart in 1996.

"We are extremely fortunate to have Bill join our board. His deep knowledge of the retail industry and leadership on our board of directors will be invaluable as we work towards our goal of building the leading electronic cigarette company in the world," Brent Willis, chairman and CEO Victory Electronic Cigarettes, said.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target is investing $5 million in a coalition of cyber-security organizations to launch a marketing campaign to educate the public about phishing scams and security, the mass merchandise retailer said.

The coalition includes the National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance, the National Cyber Security Alliance and Better Business Bureaus.

"Cyber-security is fast becoming one of the biggest marketplace challenges for businesses and a huge concern for their customers," Council of Better Business Bureaus president and CEO Mary Power said.

Target president, chairman and CEO Gregg Steinhafel published an open letter in newspapers across the country to announce the new campaign.

"In the days ahead, Target will announce a coalition to help educate the public on the dangers of consumer scams," Steinhafel wrote in the letter. "We also will accelerate the conversation — among customers, retailers, the financial community, regulators and others — on adopting newer, more secure technologies that protect consumers."

The announcement is being made in the wake of a massive security breach that took place between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15 in which payment card data on some 40 million customers were stolen, along with other information, such as names, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses on up to 70 million customers.

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